Sending a helping hand to our friends in Texas

Sending a helping hand to our friends in Texas

We have all watched the coverage of Hurricane Harvey with heartbreak as we see endless pictures of the destruction and flooding it left in the storm's wake. For many of us who were here we during our floods of 2010, the ability to relate is very personal. Many in Franklin, and on staff here at Visit Franklin, understand all too well what it looks like to go through a recovery period that lasts weeks, months, and even years. We've lived in homes that were lost to flood waters, we've lived through the extensive rebuilding process, and we've been the recipients of aid that were the result of generous donations from across the country. We also know that the recovery process is long, difficult, and emotionally taxing.

With that in mind, we wanted to extend a helping hand to our friends in Texas who are going through this terrible tragedy and let them know that we will be with them for the long haul. Visit Franklin has partnered with One Generation Away, which is a Franklin-based group dedicated to providing emergency food service to those in need via mobile pantries to collect food items. One Generation Away and its volunteers have tremendous experience organizing and operating mobile food pantries in areas of need and personally deliver both non-perishable products and fresh produce directly to victims.

Non-perishable food items will be collected at hospitality industry and community partner locations across Williamson County through the month of October, then sent to areas of Texas with the greatest need in early November.

Why early November? Why not send aid right away? Immediately after a tragedy occurs, great attention is given and aid comes in from across the country. It truly is one of the great things about our country. When others are in need, so many fellow Americans want to jump in and help however they can. But life goes on. When weeks have passed and pictures from the devastated areas are no longer leading the news each night, it doesn't mean the need is any less. Many in Middle Tennessee learned that in 2010, and that experience is why we, along with One Generation Away, are committing to be there for our friends in Texas for the long haul. There will still be a tremendous need months after the hurricane has passed, and that is the need we want to help fulfill.

If you would like to join the efforts to send aid to Hurricane Harvey victims, there are multiple ways to do so. You can drop off non-perishable food items at one of the locations listed below or you can make a cash contribution here, that will go directly to the purchase of fresh produce for One Generation Away's mobile food pantry.